Indicator for games



. March 4, 1930. T. H. DECKER 1,749,418

INDICATOR FOR GAMES Filed April 1, 1929 5 45 20.54 7%eaJ0/e/Z/7edex 36 L 39 gal Patented Mar. 4, 1930 PATENT oFFIcE THEODORE H. DECKER, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS INDICATOR Application filed April 1,

This invention relates to an indicator for games and has to do with a tally device whlch will visibly indicate a series of plays together with adjustable means for representing hazards or other risks interposed at suitable intervals about the device and which may be utilized in such series of plays.

The invention is exemplified in the form of 7 an. indicator for golf games such as is set 10 forth in my copending applications for Letters Patent Serial No. 16&,525, filed January 29, $927 and Serial No. 195,202 filed May 81, 192

The indicator or tally device of this invention contemplates a fixed wheel having indicia on its face representing distances or like 7 matter; a plurality of pegs or pins arranged about the periphery of the Wheel; a pivoted v pointer or arm which is caused to rotate 20 through suitable mechanism and which pointer has a spring finger for contacting said pegs as the arm is rotated which finger is provided with means for varying the flexibility ofthe same to secure proper adjustment between the rotation of the arm and the mechanism for rotating the same.

The invention further contemplates sectors arranged about the axis of the indicator which sectors represent hazards or other risks wuseful in playing the game and which sectors may be angularly adjusted and locked in adjusted position.

An object of the invention is to provide an indicator or tally whereby a series of plays may be visibly indicated whereby the total effect of the series of plays may be shown at any point in the game.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indicator having a pivoted arm which is movable in step by step movement over a dial having on its face indicia of distances moved or other characteristic marks of the game with which it is used whereby the arm may at any point in its movement indicate the summation of a series of plays made up to that point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game indicator having sectors arranged for angular adjustment which sectors FOR GAMES 1929. Serial No. 351,583.

The above, other, and further objects of i the invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

The invention is exemplified as an indicator or tally for golf games although it is of course susceptible of arrangement for use with other games in which event the indicia and characteristic markings would be changed to conform to such other games.

The form of mechanism chosen to ex emplify the invention is illustrated as before stated as an indicator for golf games and the figuresof the accompanying drawings are therefore directed to an indicator for such golf game.

The views of the figures are as follows:

Figure 1 is a front view of an indicator embodying this invention arranged for a golf game.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental view taken substantially on line IIII of Figure 5 partially in section of one means for securing the hazard indicators in adjusted position. v

Figure 3 is a section taken on line III-J11 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental view taken substantially on line IV-IV of Figure 1 partially in section of one means for varying the flexibility of the spring finger carried by the pointer or arm. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on line VV of Figure 1.

The exemplified form of the invention consists of a wheel 1 which is supported by standards not shown or in any other suitable manner.

The wheel 1 is fixed in such standards or supports and is provided with a plurality of arms or spokes 2 which are connected at the inner ends to a hub 3.

The hub 3 has a central or axial aperture 4 therethrough in which is arranged a shaft 5 which shaft turns freely in the hub '3.

The shaft 5 is carriedin hall-\bearingssupe ported in cups 6 and 7 at each side of the hub 3.

The shaft 5 supports at its outer end an arm or pointer 8whi'ch is secured to the shaft'5by means ofa'nutll.

The rear end of the shaft o has fastened to .it a plate 10 which plate :is bolted to a ratchet wheel 11'. The ratchet wheel 11 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 12. A stub shaft 13 passes through the aperture .12 in the ratchet 11 and is securely fixed against rotation with respect to the shaft 5. This stub shaft 13 carries at its outer end a ball bearing not shown around which is arranged a cup 14. i

A pulley wheel 15' is :recessed to receive the cup 14and has a tight fit with said cup so aszto turn with said cup on the ball hearing supported by the stub shaft 13.

The pulley wheel 1.) is provided with a detent 16 -pivoted at v1? to the pulley wheel which detent engages the ratchet wheel 11. A pin 18 is provided in the pulley wheel to prevent undue movement of the pawl or detent 16 away from the ratchet wheel 11 when the pulley wheel is moved inthe reversedirection as will be hereinafter'explained.

The pulley 15 has a grooved periphery 19 about which are wound several turns 'of a rope orca-ble 20, one end of which is fastened by a staple or similar attaching means 21 to the pulley. The same cable 20 or another cable may be secured in the peripheral portion 19 ofthe pulley wheel. 15 with a free end 22 to which is attached a counterweight 23, as shown in Figure 3.

The parts are arrangedso that the pointer or arm 8 will move in clockwise direction as observed in the drawings when the-cable 19 is subjected-to pull.

The face of the wheel 1 isin the present instance divided into a plurality of spaces 24 which spaces are divided by radial lines 25 and all of the spaces bear numbers ii-ndieating-distances by ten yards per space from the zero point of the dial which zero ;point is shown as at l2-oclock on the dial.

v Pegs or pins 26 are arranged about the margin-of the dial with a pin on every one of the dividing lines 25 and :another pin intermediate the dividing lines .25. It will be observed that the spaces 24 are marked to indicate spaces of ten yards per space in which event the intermediate pins 26 would 7 while a pinion 34 is arranged within the transverse slot 32 on a shaft 35 which shaft may :have asquared head 36 for rotation of the pinionr34. A flat spring .37 isarranged within the opening through therack bar 33 and extends beyond the .end of said bar. A block '38 is secured to the pointer 8 below the arrow and said block has an opening 39 through the same for thespring 37. A set screw 40 is arranged Within theblock 38 for fastening the spring-3'7 in longitudinally adjusted position in th'eblook 38. The spring 37 is flat arranged with its wider surfaces perpendicular to the plane of the pointer 8 with the outer end of the finger 37 arranged to extend slightlv beyond the circular row of pegs 26 soas to have a wiping action against these pegs as the arm 8 is rotated. 1

The rack 'bar' 33 may be moved upwardly or downwardly by the pinion 34 for varying the flexibility of the spring 3?; Should it be desired to stiffen the spring then the rack bar would be moved, upwardly a proper distance and on the other hand should it be desired to allow ,greater flexibility then the rack bar would be lowered by proper ,manip ulation ofithe stud 35 carrying the pinion 34. This arrangement allows nice adjust ment of the flexibility of the finger 37 so as to contro'l proper rotation of the arm '8 responsive to power impulses imparted to the same through the cable 20and the connected parts. V

An angular ring 41 has its f1ange41 'se cured to the inner ends of the spokes 2 by screws 42 and with its flange 41 extending; axially. The ring 41 is in section a right angled ring. 7 1

Another ring 43 "is arranged on the ring 41 so as to turn freely on'the same. A sector 44 is fastened to this ring 43 and extends radially "froin'the hub? The outer end of the-sectord loverliesthe indicia on the wheel landitself carries indicia constituting in the present instance the letter C at the middle point of the end of the sector and the numerals 7.1 to 4 inclusive arranged chronologically at each side of the :letter C. The sector'44 is made with a point 45 which isthe mid point of its :freeendand in which is the letlee 43 within the axial flange 41 of the ring 41 and this ring 46 in turn carries a similar secthe pin 4'7 against the outstanding flange 41 of the ring 41 for locking the associated sector in angularly adjusted position.

The operation of the illustrated form of the invention is as follows:

Indicia on the wheel 1 represents spaces 24 marked to illustrate 600 yards from the point zero around to, the point zero with one rotation of the pointer 8. The sector 47 has been arranged to indicate that at 180 yards from the zero point that is from the tee there is a river, whereas the sector 44 has been adjusted to indicate the green at 350 yards from the zero point or tee.

The indicator of this invention may be associated with a golr" driving recorder such as that set forth in my copending application Serial No. 164,525, filed January 29,' 1927,

' wherein a box is provided with a flexible wall,

air pressure being maintained within thebex so that the flexible wall is struck by a golf ball the air within the box will be displaced in accordance with the force of the ball, operating an arm which may be connecte to the cable 20. Such displacement of the air would impart movement to the cable 20'to the left as viewed in Figure 3 imparting rotation in clockwise direction to the pulley 15. Such rotation would drive the ratchet wheel 11 in clockwise direction by reason of the engagement of the pawl 16 with the ratchet wheel. This inturn would impart rotation to the pointer 8. Suppose for instance that in the starting of the game with the sectors 47 and 44 arranged as shown the first player makes a drive of 150 yards, in such event the pointer would move and rest on the pin 25 indicating such distance. The next drive is dubbed and the ball goes into the river as indicated by the sector 47. This would necessitate moving the pointer back to the first pin beyond the sector 47 in counter-clockwise di- 1 rection and then the player would take an other stroke landing on the green say at 340 yards. 7 The pointer would then come to rest at the 340 yard pin near the number 4 on the sector 44 indicating that the player will then place his ball at point number 4 on the putting green device which is used with a golf game such as that set forth in my copending application above mentioned.

When the first player reaches the green that is sector 44 the pointer is moved back to the zero point so that the second player may play the, same hole.

When all of the players have played the first hole, then the sectors 47 and 44 are adjusted to represent the conditions existing in the second hole which might be a long hole with the putting green say at 500 yards from the tee or zero point in which event the sector 44 would be moved so that the pointer 45 thereof is opposite the pin indicating 500 yards from the zero. Should it so happen that there is no river or other hazard on the second hole then the sector 47 would be disregarded in playing this hole.

The game is continued in the manner just described setting the sectors 44 and 47 to correspond with the conditions existing on the various holes which conditions may be such as exemplified in my copending application for golf game board, Serial No. 195,202, filed May 31, 1927 which depicts a nine hole course with hazards and with the holes arranged at various distances from the several tees.

The moment that the pointer 8 is moved to its maximum position of angular movement under impulse imparted thereto through the pulley wheel 15 the pulley wheel is returned to normal position by the counterweight 23 during which movement the pawl 16 rides over the ratchet wheel 11 without imparting rotation to the same.

The point zero on the wheel 1 indicates the tee from which the players tee off in the golf game and as before stated the sector 44 representing the green is adjusted in angular position to correctly represent the distance of the green from the tee and in like manner the sector 47 is adjusted to represent the existence of any hazard such as a river. bunkeror similar hazard well known on golf courses.

The spring finger 37 as before described wipes the pins 26 as the arm 8 is rotated and the degree of flexibility of said finger may be adjusted so that the movement of the pointer 8 will correspond correctly to the distance represented by every stroke played.

The arrangement of the parts is such that when the pointer 7 has been moved to rest by the pulley wheel and ratchet wheel that it remains in such position until manually returned to the zero point so that the pointer pointer being movable over said dial, a ring supported on the spokes for angular movementabout the shaf-t,'a:sector carried'bysaid ring, and acam member on said sector for locking the, same in angularly adjusted =posi- 7m t1on,-sa1d sectorbearing 'indicia inaddition to that on the dial.

In testimony whereof Ihavehereuntosubscrlbed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

THEODORE DECKER.

' 2. An indicator including a fixed wheellike dial having indicia thereon, a ring of spaced pegs on said dial, a rotatable pointer movable over said dial, a ratchet Wheeliconnected to said pointer for moving it in one direction, a spring finger carried by said pointer for contacting said pegs, a movable member carryinga pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel, and means for moving said member, and means for varying the flexibility of said finger.

3. An indicator including a fixed Wheellike dial having inclicia thereon, a ring of spaced pegs on said dial, a rotatable pointer movable over said dial, a ratchet wheel connected to said pointer for moving it in one direction, a spring finger carried by said pointer for contacting said pegs, a movable member carrying a pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel, and means for moving said member, said pointer carrying a rack bar movable longitudinally of the pointer, said spring finger passing through said bar, and

means for moving said rack bar along said finger to vary the flexibility of the same.

4. An indicator including a fixed Wheellike dial having indicia thereon, a rotatable pointer movable over said dial, a ratchet wheel connected to said pointer for moving it in one direction, a movable member carrying a pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel, and means for moving said member, a sector angularly adjustable over said dial, said sector bearing 1nd1c1a representing additional data over that on said dial.

5. An indicator including a fixed Wheellike dialhaving indicia thereon, a'rotata'ble pointer movable over said dial, a ratchetwheel connected to said pointer for moving it in one direction, a movable member carrying a pawl "for engagingsaid ratchet wheel, and means for moving said member, a plurality of sectors angularly adjustable about the aXis of said dial, saidsectors bearing indicia representing additional data over that appearing on said dial, said-sectors being adjustable at different points in the dial for varying the conditions of play as represented by said dial. v

6. An indicator including a "fixed wheellike dial having indicia thereon, said wheel 1 including spokes and a hub, a shaft passing through said hub and carrying a pointer, said 

